Agenda and minutes

a)  The Lord Mayor informed Council that the following Councillors would not be seeking re-election to Council, and said a few words in respect of each Councillor and thanked them for their work over the years on behalf of the Council:-

  Councillor Castle

  Councillor Cummins

  Councillor Ingham

  Councillor Andrea McKenna

  Councillor Urry

b)   The Lord Mayor reminded Council that the firewalk for her charity would take place on Friday 1^st April.

c)  The Lord Mayor referred to the terrible events in Belgium and offered her sympathy to those affected by the events.

Council stood in silent tribute.

To approve the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24^th February 2016.

It was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor G Latty and

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th February 2016 be approved.

There were no declarations of interests.

The Chief Executive informed Council of the receipt of correspondence from Robert Goodwill MP regarding flooding in Leeds, a copy of which had been circulated to all Members of Council.

Three deputations were admitted to the meeting and addressed Council, as follows:-

1)  Parents of children in the villages of East Keswick and Bardsey  regarding the impact of the Schools Transport Policy.

2)  Local groups regarding the Government’s Prevent Programme.

3)  Leeds Beckett Student Union regarding lighting in Beckett Park.

RESOLVED – That the subject matter in respect of deputation 1 be referred to the Executive Board for consideration that the subject matter in respect of deputation 2 be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member and the subject matter in respect of deputation 3 be referred to the Director of Environment and Housing for consideration in consultation with the relevant Executive Member.

To consider a report setting out recommendations from the General Purposes Committee on 9^th February 2016 to Full Council in respect of the 2016/17 Pay Policy Statement.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Charlwood and

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the updated 2016/17 financial year pay policy statement as set out in Addendum 1 of the attached report to General Purposes Committee be approved;

(b)  That any required in year amendment to the Annual Pay Policy Statement in respect of exit payment caps or as a consequence of changes to Leeds City Council’s policy statement on Pension Scheme Discretions be delegated to the Chief Officer (HR).

(c)  That the assurance provided by the Deputy Chief Executive be noted.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor setting out recommendations from the Standards and Conduct Committee on 4 March 2016 to Full Council regarding the Annual report of the Standards and Conduct Committee.

It was moved by Councillor Nash, seconded by Councillor Selby and

RESOLVED - That the annual report of the Standards and Conduct Committee, as presented by the report of the City Solicitor, be received.

To consider the report of the City Solicitor on attendance at meetings.

It was moved by Councillor Charlwood, seconded by Councillor Campbell and

RESOLVED – That the absence of Councillor Downes from meetings of the authority for a period of six months from this meeting be approved.

To consider a report of the Inner North East Community Committee.

It was moved by Councillor Taylor, seconded by Councillor Urry and

RESOLVED – That the report on the work of the Inner North East Community Committee be noted.

To consider a report of the Outer South Community Committee.

It was moved by Councillor Bruce, seconded by Councillor Nagle and

RESOLVED – That the report on the work of the Outer South Community Committee be noted.

Q1  Councillor Andrew Carter to the Leader of Council :-

Will the Leader of Council confirm the number of PCSOs operating in Leeds in 2016/17?

The Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety) replied in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11.3(b).

Q2  Councillor Townsley to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning):-

Does the executive member agree that it is a missed opportunity to not install an Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera on the newly constructed A65/A6120 ring road roundabout so that the police have a tool with which to gather evidence, as recommended by three years’ worth of emails from council officers?

The Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning) replied.

Q3  Councillor Iqbal to the Leader of Council:-

Please will the Leader of Council update members on recent announcements concerning flood defences in Leeds?

The Leader of Council replied.

Q4  Councillor A Blackburn to the Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety):-

Can the Executive Member for Environmental Protection and Community Safety tell me what the procedure is for informing bin collection crews of any highways work that may affect their ability to complete their round?

The Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety) replied.

Q5  Councillor Taylor to the Executive Member (Children and Families):-

Can the Executive Member for Children’s Services please comment on the Chancellor’s recent education announcements?

The Executive Member (Children and Families) replied.

Q6  Councillor B Anderson to the Leader of Council:-

Does the Leader of Council agree with comments attributed to Jeremy Corbyn regarding the legalisation of prostitution?

  The Leader of Council replied.

Q7  Councillor Cleasby to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning):-

Could the executive member please update council on the airport link road consultation?

The Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning) replied.

Q8  Councillor Pryor to the Executive Member (Health, Wellbeing and Adults):-

Following the Deputation in January from service users can the Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults update Council on the future of the BHA Skyline Service?

The Executive Member (Health, Wellbeing and Adults) replied.

At the conclusion of question time, the following questions remained unanswered and it was noted that, under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.6, written answers would be sent to each Member of Council:-

Q9  Councillor Finnigan to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning)

Q10  Councillor Urry to the Executive Member (Communities)

Q11  Councillor Lamb to the Executive Member (Children and Families).

Q12  Councillor Golton to the Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety).

Q13  Councillor A Khan to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning).

Q14  Councillor Smart to the Executive Member (Employment, Enterprise and Opportunity).

Q15  Councillor Robinson to the Executive Member (Children and Families).

Q16  Councillor J Bentley to the Executive Member (Children and Families).

Q17  Councillor Venner to the Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety).

Q18  Councillor Robinson to the Executive Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning).

Q19  Councillor S Bentley to the Executive Member (Environmental Protection and Community Safety).

Q20  Councillor Robinson  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Charlwood that the minutes be received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(i).

An amendment(reference back) was submitted by Councillor Campbell  to add the following at the end of item 11:

‘To ask the Executive Board to reconsider the decision in relation to Police and Community Support Officers, contained in minute 156 of the Executive Board minutes of 9^th March 2016.’

Prior to debating the minutes it was moved by Councillor Campbell, seconded by Councillor Lamb that under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2(c) that the order of business be changed so that the reference back in his name falling within the Environmental Protection and Community Safety Portfolio of the Executive Board minutes be heard first within the Executive Board minutes (prior to the Communities portfolio).

Upon being put to the vote, the motion to reorder the reference back was declared lost.

The amendment (reference back) was declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That the minutes be received in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 2.2(i)

Council Procedure Rule 4, providing for the winding up of business, was applied prior to all notified comments on the minutes having been debated.

On the requisition of Councillor Campbell and Lamb, the voting on Councillor Campbell’s request to reorder the reference back was recorded as follows:

 YES –27

B Anderson, C Anderson, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Amanda Carter, Cleasby ,Cohen, Collins,Elliott, Finnigan, Flynn, Golton ,Harrand , Lamb, G Latty, P Latty,  Leadley, J Procter, Robinson, Townsley, Varley, Wadsworth, Wilford, and Wilkinson

No - 56

Akhtar, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Congreve, Coulson, Coupar, C Dobson, M Dobson, Dowson , Gabriel, P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen,  P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Harington, Harland, Harper,  Hayden, Heselwood,  G Hussain, Hyde, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jarosz, A Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna,J McKenna, S McKenna, Mulherin, Nagle, Nash, Ogilvie, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, Sobel E Taylor, Towler, Urry, Venner, Walker, Walshaw, Wakefield and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN - 0

At the conclusion of this item Council adjourned from 16.20 to 16.50

To consider a report of the Chief Executive updating Members on matters in the Leeds City Region LEP and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, specifically this report provides details of the latest public combined authority meeting in February.

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor J Lewis and

RESOLVED - That the report of the Chief Executive updating Members on matters in respect of devolution be received.

This Council calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to set up a Royal Commission on Local Government Finance and the wider relationship between Central and Local Government.

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor Finnigan that this Council calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to set up a Royal Commission on Local Government Finance and the wider relationship between Central and Local Government.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Lewis seconded by Councillor Dawson

After “between Central and Local Government” add:

“This Council regrets the high level of centralisation in England and believes local authorities should have more control over public spending in their areas. Council believes the distribution of public funds should primarily be based on responding to the needs and deprivation of local populations.

“This Council notes the Government’s stated intention to localise business rates and calls for a quick settlement in this regard to end any uncertainty about any such localisation on local government finance.”

Full motion will then read:

“This Council calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to set up a Royal Commission on Local Government Finance and the wider relationship between Central and Local Government.

“This Council regrets the high level of centralisation in England and believes local authorities should have more control over public spending in their areas. Council believes the distribution of public funds should primarily be based on responding to the needs and deprivation of local populations.

“This Council notes the Government’s stated intention to localise business rates and calls for a fair and quick settlement in this regard to end any uncertainty about any such localisation on local government finance.”

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9(b), and with the consent of the seconder Councillor Andrew Carter sought leave of Council to alter the wording of the motion in his name by the inclusion of the amendment in the name of Councillor J Lewis.

Council was adjourned at this point in order that procedural advice could be taken on the matter, upon the resumption of the meeting the Lord Mayor called for the vote on Councillor Carter’s request and the vote was lost.

The amendment in the name of Councillor J Lewis was carried and upon being put to the vote it was;

RESOLVED – That this Council calls upon Her Majesty’s Government to set up a Royal Commission on Local Government Finance and the wider relationship between Central and Local Government.

“This Council regrets the high level of centralisation in England and believes local authorities should have more control over public spending in their areas. Council believes the distribution of public funds should primarily be based on responding to the needs and deprivation of local populations.

“This Council notes the Government’s stated intention to localise business rates and calls for a fair and quick settlement in this regard to end any uncertainty about any such localisation on local government finance.

On the requisition of Councillor Andrew Carter and J Procter, the voting on Councillor Carter’s request to incorporate the amendment into his motion was recorded as follows:

 YES –27

B Anderson, C Anderson, J Bentley, S Bentley, A Blackburn, Buckley, Campbell, Amanda Carter, Andrew  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

This council opposes the government’s cut of £170 million to the community pharmacies budget and is alarmed at the statement from the community and social care minister that up to 3,000 pharmacies could close as a result of this cut.

This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to older residents and those living in remote communities.

This council resolves to:

• Respond to the public consultation currently underway, clearly expressing council’s opposition to the cut in pharmacy budget and any resulting programme of closures.
• Utilise the public health contracts it holds with pharmacies to minimise the effect of government cuts to the pharmacies budget to minimise the number of closures in Leeds.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the government minister setting out council’s concerns about these plans.
• Requests the Chief Executive write to Leeds’ MPs, asking them to join us and call on the government to shelve these plans and protect this vital service.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 14.9(a), leave of Council was given to alter the wording of the motion in the name of Councillor Golton to include the amendment in the name of Councillor Mulherin.

Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2(d) and 14.10 and with the consent of the seconder, leave of Council was given to Councillor Mulherin to withdraw the amendment in her name.

It was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Mulherin that  this council opposes the government’s cut of £170 million to the community pharmacies budget and is alarmed at the statement from the community and social care minister that up to 3,000 pharmacies could close as a result of this cut.

This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to vulnerable residents and those living in remote communities.

This council resolves to: 

• Respond to the public consultation currently underway, clearly expressing council’s opposition to the cut in pharmacy budget and any resulting programme of closures.
• Utilise the public health contracts it holds with pharmacies to minimise the effect of government cuts to the pharmacies budget to minimise the number of closures in Leeds.
• Ask the Chief Executive to write to the government minister setting out council’s concerns about these plans and ask to see their health impact assessment.
• Requests the Chief Executive write to Leeds’ MPs, asking them to join us and call on the government to shelve these plans and protect this vital service.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Buckley seconded by Councillor Robinson

 Delete Paragraph 1 and insert after ‘those living in remote communities’:

‘Council believes that by modernising services and using services such as on line pharmacy provision the needs of some customers could be better catered for.

This Council further believes that any proposed closures of pharmacies should be the subject of local consultation to ensure that vulnerable groups will not be adversely impacted by the proposals.

This Council believes that the needs of vulnerable service users should be protected wherever possible and calls for an Executive Board report exploring how series users in Leeds will be impacted and where services could be modernised and efficiency increased.’

Motion would read:

‘This council recognises the important role that independent pharmacies play in local communities particularly to older residents and those living in remote communities.

Council believes that by modernising services and using services such as on line pharmacy provision the needs of some customers could be better catered for.

This Council further believes that any proposed closures of pharmacies should be the subject of local consultation to ensure that vulnerable groups will not be adversely impacted by the proposals.

This Council believes that the needs of vulnerable service users should be protected wherever possible and calls for an Executive Board report exploring how service users in Leeds will be impacted and where services could be modernised and efficiency increased.’

The amendment in the name of Councillor Buckley was declared lost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

As a major employer in the local area, this Council welcomes the positive benefits that arise from the relationship that we have with recognised Trade Unions. This Council believes that the relationship between employers and their employees through their collective representatives would be damaged by reducing facility time for elected representatives and by removing the ability of union members to pay union dues direct from their wages.

This Council believes that the Trade Union bill, far from assisting employer-employee relations or improving workplace democracy, is an ideologically driven attack on the fundamental rights and freedoms of workers to organise or take strike action. lt is also deliberately designed to dramatically reduce funding to the main Party in opposition to the Government, and as such is a threat to our democracy.

The Council notes that the Bill and secondary legislation will:

·  Allow agency labour to be used to substitute for striking workers, currently outlawed, which would be deeply divisive and with agency workers often doing unfamiliar jobs, could pose a serious health and safety risk to themselves and others

·  lntroduce very high thresholds for industrial ballots, with an extra threshold in certain public services, without doing anything to improve the ability of workers to participate in ballots

·  Severely restrict the right to picket and peacefully protest including organising campaigns through social media

·  Significantly reduce Trade Union facility time and withdraw check-off union contributions in the public sector, irrespective of the wishes of the employer

·  Require union members to 'contract in'to their union's Political Fund every 5 years, thereby significantly reducing the ability of Trade Unions either to campaign on political issues or to support political parties.

This Council commits to promote the positive role that Trade Unions bring to society and therefore calls on the Government to scrap the Trade Union Bill and all associated regulation/secondary legislation.

Should the Trade Union Bill receive Royal Assent enabling the legislation to come into effect, Council requests that Executive Board receive a report on the implications of the Bill for Leeds City Council, its employees, Trade Unions and the effect on maintaining positive industrial relations.

Prior to the debate on the motion and following a request from a Member the City Solicitor provided guidance to Council on the issue of the registration and disclosure of potential Interests in the matter being discussed. 

It was moved by Councillor Blake, seconded by Councillor Heselwood that as a major employer in the local area, this Council welcomes the positive benefits that arise from the relationship that we have with recognised Trade Unions. This Council believes that the relationship between employers and their employees through their collective representatives would be damaged by reducing facility time for elected representatives and by removing the ability of union members to pay union dues direct from their wages.

This Council believes that the Trade Union bill, far from assisting employer-employee relations or improving workplace democracy, is an ideologically driven attack on the fundamental rights and freedoms of workers to organise or take strike action. lt is also deliberately designed to dramatically reduce funding to the main Party in opposition to the Government, and as such is a threat to our democracy.

The Council notes that the Bill and secondary legislation will:

• Allow agency labour to be used to substitute for striking workers, currently outlawed, which would be deeply divisive and with agency workers often doing unfamiliar jobs, could pose a serious health and safety risk to themselves and others
• lntroduce very high thresholds for industrial ballots, with an extra threshold in certain public services, without doing anything to improve the ability of workers to participate in ballots
• Severely restrict the right to picket and peacefully protest including organising campaigns through social media
• Significantly reduce Trade Union facility time and withdraw check-off union contributions in the public sector, irrespective of the wishes of the employer
• Require union members to 'contract in' to their union's Political Fund every 5 years, thereby significantly reducing the ability of Trade Unions either to campaign on political issues or to support political parties.

This Council commits to promote the positive role that Trade Unions bring to society and therefore calls on the Government to scrap the Trade Union Bill and all associated regulation/secondary legislation.

Should the Trade Union Bill receive Royal Assent enabling the legislation to come into effect, Council requests that Executive Board receive a report on the implications of the Bill for Leeds City Council, its employees, Trade Unions and the effect on maintaining positive industrial relations.

An amendment was moved by Councillor A Blackburn seconded by Councillor Wilford.

To delete the last sentence of the second paragraph,

i.e. delete:  “lt is also deliberately designed to dramatically reduce funding to the main Party in opposition to the Government, and as such is a threat to our democracy..”

The rest of the text remains unchanged.

A second amendment was moved by Councillor J Bentley seconded by Councillor Cleasby

Remove all except paragraph 4.

Replace “commits to promote” in paragraph 4 with “acknowledges”.

Add the following to the end of the motion:

“This  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.